Cutter chain



I M. P. HOLMES I CUTTER CHAIN Fi1ed Nov. 1924 Patented Qct. 23,1928.

U N g T g Tar cries. v

MORRIS r. HoL-Mns, or CLABEMQNT, NEWHAMESHIRE ASSIGNQR To SULLIVANMACHINERY COMPANY" A CGBPOBATION 0F MAssecHusEr'rs.

CUTTER CI-I AIN.

Application filed November 1, 1924. Serial No. 747 318 My inventionrelates to cutter chains and more part-ieularly to cutter chains formining machines.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved cutter chain. Afurther object of my invention is to provide animproved cutter chain andespecially an improved cutter chai'nadapted to use in connection withmining machines. Another object of myinvention is to provide an improvedcutter bit guard. A still further object of my invention is to providean improved cutter chain having improved means carried thereby wherebythe operator is prevented from being drawn into the rapidly moving chaineven should he come in contact with the chain. Still another object ofmy invention is to provide an improved mining machine cutter chainhaving improved means carr ed thereby for guarding the points ofthecutter bits. These and other objects and. advantages of my inventionwill, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustrationtwo forms which my invent1on may assume in practice. In these ,drawings,Fig. lis a side elevation of acutter cham constructed in accordance withmy improvement. Fig. 2is a plan viewof the chain shown Fig. 1.

Fig. 3

is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on line ofFig. 1.

Fig. A isa detail view of a modified form of construction.

In this illustrative construction I have showna cutter chain of usualconstruction comprisinga cutter link 1 carrying a cutter bit 2 having aninwardly inclined cutting surface 3, projecting from the link 1, and aor guardv means 8 which is adapted to shroud a greater portion of thesurface 3 of the bit 2. This shrouding member comprises a vertical web 9formed integral with the link 1 and arranged substantially in thelongitudinal center line of the latter adjacent the forward end thereofand having a rearwardly 1nchned upper surface 10 and inclined sides 11which terminate adjacent the outside edges of the cutting surfa-ce3 ofthe bit within the outer limits thereof. thereby causing the bit topresent free cutting edges.

In the form of mv invention shown in F ig. A I have provided theguarding member 8 witlr'aninclined guarding or deflector portion 12,similar to the portion 9 shown in Figs. '1

to 3, and-having rearwardly inclined sides,

13 which converge into the outside edges of the cutting surface 3' ofthe bit 2, thus forming a smooth joint with the tapering sides of thebit.

In the operation of my improved construction shown in Figs. 1 to Sitwill be observed that the upper portion of the web 9 which shrouds orguards. the greater portion ofthe surface 3 of the bit is disposed insuch a manner that should the operator get-too c-loseto the exposedportion of the chain a relatively small'portion of the cutting surface 3of the bit wouldstrike him orhis clothing and, due to themovement of thechain and the shape of the'surface 10 on the shrouding member 8. wouldthrow him or his clothing out of the path of the bits. Otherwise theinwardly inclined surface 3 of the bit would catch him or hi's clothingand dueto its shape would drag him into the mechanism. causing seriousand frequently fatal injury. Also it will be observed that the smallportion of the cutting surface 3 which projects beyond the edges of theshrouding member 8 is of suflicient size to efficiently cut the coal, inthe usual manner. i I

In the operation of the form of my inven-' tion shown'in Fig. f'it willherein'be noted that a guarding or deflector member 12 prevents theoperator or'his clothing from being draggedintotl erapidly moving cutterchain, being even more effective in view of the more complete shroudingthan the form of Figs. 1 to 3, though somewhat diminishing ethciency incutting.

As a resultof my improved construction it will be. observed that thepossibility of the operator being dragged into the rapidly moving cutterchain is greatly diminished, a relatively small cutting surface beingexposed which causes only a comparatively slight in jury to the operatorif struck thereby. It will further be observed that an improved cutterchain guard is provided which is of an exceedingly simple andinexpensive construction adapted to greatly diminish the danger of arapidly moving cutter chain when exposed, and which in no way interfereswith the effective operation of the cutter bits when in engagement withthe work.

\Vhile I have in this application specifically described two forms whichmy invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that'theseforms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and that theinvention may be modified and embodiedin various other forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secur by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a cutter chain and a cutter bit having lateralcutting edges, of means carried by the cutter chain and pro j ectingbetween said cutting edges for guardmg a substantial portion of thecutting surface of the bit, said means having a guard surface inclinedrearwardly from said chain to its outer extremity.

2. Thecombination with a cutter chain and a cutter bit having lateralcutting edges, of constantly operative means carried by the cutter chainindependently of the bit and projecting upwardly between said cuttingedges for guarding a substantial portion of the cutting surface of saidbit, said means having a guard surface inclined rearwardly from saidchain to its outer extremity.

3. The combination with a cutter chain and a cutter bit having lateralcutting edges, of means permanently carried by said chain having rigidrelation with respect to said bit and projecting between said cuttingedges for guarding a substantial portion of the cutting surface of saidbit, said means having a guard surface inclined rearwardly from saidchain to its outer extremity.

4. The combination in a cutter chain of a cutter link and a cutter bitcarried by said link and having lateral cutting ed es, said link havingmeans formed integral therewith and projecting between said cuttingedges for guarding a substantial portion of the cutting surface of saidbit, said means having a guard surface inclined rearwardly from saidchain to its outer extremity.

5. The combination in a cutter chain of a cutter link and a cutter bitcarried by said link and having lateral cutting edges, said link havingconstantly operative means formed integral therewith and projectingupwardly between said cutting edges for guarding a substantial portionof the cutting sur face of said bit, said means having a guard surfaceinclined rearwardly from said chain to its outer extremity.

6. The combination with a cutter chain and a cutter bit having aforwardly inclined cut ting surface and lateral cutting edges, of meansformed on the cutter chain and proj ecting upwardly between said cuttingedges for guarding a substantial portion of the cutting surface of saidbit, said means having a guard surface inclined. oppositely to saidcutting edges from said chain to its outer extremity.

7. The combination with a cutter chain and a cutter bit having aforwardly inclined cutting surface and lateral cutting edges, ofconstantly operative cutter bit guard means carried by the cutter chainand projecting upwardly between said cutting edges, said guard meanshaving a forward guard surface inclined rearwardly from said chain toitsouter extremity.

8. The combination in a cutter chain of a cutter link and a cutter bitcarried by said link and having a forwardly inclined cutting surface andlateral cutting edges, said link having cutter bit guard means formedintegral therewith, said guard means having a forward surface inclinedrearwardly from said chain to its outer extremity between said cuttingedges.

9. The combination in a cutter chain of a cutter link and a cutter bitcarried directly by said link and having a cutting surface havinglateral cutting edges, said link having means projecting between saidcutting edges and having inclined converging sides within the outeredges of said cutting surface for guarding a substantial portion of thelatter, said means having a guard surface inclined rearwardly from saidlink to its outer extremity.

10. The combination with a cutter chain and a cutter bit provided with atapered cutting end, of deflector means mounted in front of said bit, aportion of whichextends over and adjacent to the point of said cuttingend, said deflector means at all points being of less width than saidcutting end of the bit so as not to hinder its cutting action.

11. The combination in a cutter chain of a cutter link and a cutter bitcarried by said link and having a forwardly inclined cutting point, saidlink having guard means secured directly thereto forwardly of said bit,said means presenting a rearwardly inclined defiector surface extendingoutwardly from said link to adjacent said cutting point, and anotherdeflecting surface in front of said point inclined rearwardly at agreater angle than said first surface, the extreme cutting edges of saidpoint however being exposed for cutting action.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MORRIS P. HOLMES.

